Method of forming radiators



Aug. 8, 1933.

F. c. REYNOLDS 1,921,041

METHOD OF FORMING RADIATOHS Original Filed Aug. 27, 1929 70 i ii H r 5/ Z6\\ 75 25 7/" iA 29 2 H U 74 1 f7 INVENTOR fZW/VK C REV/VOL 05.

ATTOR N EYS v I I pocketing-of air or other gas.

Patented Aug. 8, 1933 METHOD OF FORMING RADIATORS Frank C. Reynelds, New York, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to American Radiator d: Standard danitary Corporation; a Corporation of Delaware Originall'applibation August 2?;1929, Serial No. 388,655, new Patent No. 1,865,962. Divided and thisappiication August 25, 1930. Serial No 4 Claims. (011' 29-1573) This invention relates to radiators and the method of constructing the same and more particularly to radiators of the general type shown in Patents No. 1,830,620 December 1932 to Thomas Murray and No. 1,865,982 July 5, 1932 to Frank C. Reynolds, of which latter application the pres-- ent application is a division. In radiators of the types shown in the above mentioned applications, a pipe is bent or formed into a number of substantially parallel lengths to serve as a conduit and container of the heating element. On uhlS pipe there is mounted a pairof corrugated-plates, one on each side of the plane in which the lengths of pipe lie forming transver e ribs, which define alternate inner and outer channels for the passage of air transversely of the lengths of pipe.

An object of the present invention is to pro vide a radiator of the above type in which the lengths of pipe containing the heating fluid 'or medium are inclined to the horizontal sufficiently I to cause a free flow of liquid and to prevent the Another object of the invention is to provide a radiator of the above type in which the fins of adjacent or approximate lengths of pipe are separated so that there is no transfer of heat by conduction from the fins of one length to those of another.

Other objects will be apparent from the description of the invention from the following specification and claims.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and economical method of forming radiators of the above type.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of a radiator embodying a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the radiator shown in 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the radiator. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a radiator in process of construction according to my inventiont In accordance with my invention, a pipe that 5 is to serve as a container for the steam or other heating fluid is bent to form lengths 10, 11 and 12 continuous or joined at alternate ends as at 13 and 14 and thus forming a continuous path or conduit for the heating medium. The inlet and outlet ends of the pipe are provided with suitable collars or unions 15 and 16 to a supplypipe and an outlet pipe or steam trap respectively, the inlet connection 15 being ordinarily on the uppermost pipe 10. The lengths 10, 11 and 12 thus lie in a common plane.

A pair of corrugated plates 1'7 and 18 are f mounted on opposite sides of the pipes 10, 11 and 12-and have areas 7.9 and 20 that meet in the plane of the center lines of the pipes 10, 11 and 12. Between the areas 19 and 20 the plates are provided with semi-circular rounded areas 21 1 that fit the lengths of pipe 10 as described in the above mentioned Murray application. The plates Hand 18 are welded together or otherwise secured at the adjoining'areas 19 and 20 to form alternate inner andouter channels 22 and 23 for the passage of air upwardly and transversely to the pipe lengths 10, 11 and 12. The corrugated plates 17 and 18 thus joined to the pipes 10-12 also iormh'eat conducting fins to conduct heat from the pipes 10-12 to the air passing upwardly through the channels 22 and 23.

The plates 1'7 and'lS are then cut or severed between adjacent lengths 10 and 11 and 11 and 12 as on the dotted lines 24 and 25 of 4. The unjoined ends of the pipes 10 and 11, that 1 is, the ends opposite the bend 13, and the unjoined ends of the pipes 11 and 12, that is, the ends opposite the band 14, are spread apart'thus giving a very gradual slope 'to the separate lengths, first from the .inlet' 15 to the bend 13, then in pipe 11 from the'bend 13 to the bend 14 and finally in length 12 to the outlet 16. This spreading of the pipe lengths also separates the severed ends of the corrugated plates 17 and 18, spreading the cuts 2 1 and 25 of Fig. 4 at an angle as shown at 26 and 27 of Fig. 1. This separation of the severed ends of the fins formed by the corrugated plates 17 and 18 has the advantage of making the fins of the several pipe lengths 0 10, 11 and 12 thermally independent of each other so that heat is not conducted from the fins of one pipe directly to the fins of the other and the temperature of the fins thereby lowered.

On the contrary, the temperature of the separated fins is retained at the high temperature imparted by the heating fluid except as it is lowered by the transfer of heat directly to the passing air currents. In this way the highest possible temperature gradient between the fins and the air passing through the channels or passages 22 and 23 is maintained even though one or more of the lengths 10, 11 or 12 might become pocketed or dead.

The separated spread ends of the lengths of pipe may be held in their spread position by any suitable means. In the preferred form of the invention this is accomplished by means of a pair of end plates 28 and 29 each of which is provided with an elongated slot 30 adapted to receive and fit the bend 13 or 14 and with a semicircular notch 31 at one end to receive and hold the length 10 or 12. The plates 28 and 29 are mounted at opposite ends of the radiator and may be welded or secured thereto in a suitable manner. It will be understood that when more than three lengths of pipe are used a larger number of openings 30 or notches 31 will be provided in the spacing and holding plates.

It will be understood that the shape and dimensions of the fins and channels formed by the corrugated plates 17 and 18 may be varied and that other types of fins such as a series of spaced plates or strips forming open channel fins at right angles to the pipes, as illustrated in the pending application of Murray and Hoffer, Serial No. 193,173, filed May 21, 1927, may be used.

The corrugated plates 17 and 18 may be out as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, leaving one or more fins or plates joined near the bends l3 and 14 or, may be completely out leaving no thermal contact between the plates on one length of tube with those on another, Two or more radiators can be joined together parallel to each other and may then be cut or severed in accordance with the present invention.

Through the above invention there is, therefore, provided a simple form of radiator and an economical method of manufacturing it whereby a most eflicient and effective transfer of heat from the steam pipe or other heat container to passing currents of air is provided, and in which the prevention of air pockets is positively ensured.

What I claim is:

1. A method of forming a radiator of the type described which comprises bending a pipe into substantially parallel lengths spaced in a single plane and with each length secured at one end to the length on one side, and at its opposite end to the length on the opposite side, forming fins on said pipe transverse to said lengths and spanning and extending from one length to another, severing said fins between adjacent lengths, and spreading said lengths apart between the ends free from each other to separate the cut ends of said fins.

2. A method of making a radiator of the type described which comprises bending a pipe into lengths spaced in a common plane, each length joined at one end to an adjacent length on one side and at its opposite side to an adjacent length on the other side, securing a pair of corrugated plates on said pipe lengths on alternate sides of said plane With the corrugations transverse to the length of said pipe to form fins defining inner and outer passages, severing said fins between adjacent pipe lengths, and spreading said continuous pipe in alternate inclinations between the ends opposite those at which adjacent pipe lengths are joined, to spread the severed ends of said fins.

3. A method of forming a radiator of the type described which comprises forming a pipe into substantially parallel lengths spaced in a single plane and with each length secured at one end to the length on one side, and at its opposite end to the length on the opposite side, forming fins on said pipe transverse to said lengths and spanning and extending from one length to another, severing said fins between adjacent lengths, and spreading said lengths apart between the ends free from each other to separate the cut ends of said fins.

l. A method of making a radiator of the type described which comprises forming a pipe into lengths spaced in a common plane, each length joined at one end to an adjacent length on one side and at its opposite side to an adjacent length on the other side, securing a pair of corrugated plates on said pipe lengths on alternate sides of said plane with the corrugations transverse to the length of said pipe to form fins defining inner and outer passages, severing said fins between adjacent pipe lengths, and spreading said continuous pipe in alternate inclinations be tween the ends opposite those at which adjacent pipe lengths are joined, to spread the severed ends of said fins.

FRANK C. REYNOLDS. 

